Mark, a volunteer docent, led two groups inside of the museum and explained a bit about it’s checkered past. It was built in 1876 as a synagogue for Adas Israel– a congregation still located in D.C. and going strong today. Only serving Adas for three decades before the congregation outgrew it, the building has also been home to several churches, businesses, and even used as storage space throughout the years.

A 1960s plan to demolish the place to make way for Metro transit headquarters galvanized Jewish investors to restore the property- and physically move it out of the way of Metro (click here for a 1969 shot of the synagogue being pulled down the street by a dolly!)

Though no longer an official congregation, the synagogue can be rented out for weddings or b’nai mitzvahs. JHSGW continues to offer programming and other attractions so as to connect D.C. Jews to their heritage- a great plus in my book! E-mail them at info@jhsgw.org, or join their Facebook group here.